Scholarships

Scholarships are one of the best ways to have extra cash for college. But they’re often one of the last things that rising high school seniors think about or work on during their college application process. While some scholarships are included in your financial aid packages, there’s many more out there that you need to find and apply for on your own time. The best time to find scholarships for college is now – in the summer– when you have way less to balance and manage.  Why Should I Look for Scholarships? A scholarship is an amount of money that is granted to you to help pay for your college education. In most cases it does not have to be repaid, unless you fail to live up to the scholarship criteria. For most students, it is considered “free” money which can be used to help cover both the educational and incidental costs of college. Some scholarships are small, and some are more substantial, but either way: free money helps cut down your costs.  How Do I Apply for Scholarships? Some scholarships have a rigorous application process, and require applicants to meet a number of criteria, while others are simply awarded on a lottery basis. Rest assured, though, that there is a scholarship out there for just about every type of interest, background, or ability – you just have to do your homework and find it. Look for scholarships you think you might be able to win, list out their deadlines and application requirements, and add them onto your master schedule.  What Else Should I Know About Scholarships? Think Big!  There are some pretty impressive scholarships out there, and somebody is going to win them, so why not you? If you have big plans to change the world, you might qualify for The Paradigm Challenge. The VFW Youth Scholarship for the Voice of Democracy awards its first-place winner a $30,000 scholarship. The Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship gives out 150 awards of $20,000 every year. The list of possible scholarships is quite extensive; you just have to look. Think Small!  Not all scholarships are huge, but smaller ones can still be a big help. Plenty of smaller scholarships are around and are a great way to cover book costs.  Ask your parents’ employers, talk to your relatives and friends, check out local businesses and civic groups, or look into your religious denomination to find available scholarships.   Think Outside the Box!  Sometimes it takes a little creativity to find scholarships. There are scholarships by gender, ethnic origin, diseases, hobbies, and aspirations. Everything from surviving a Zombie apocalypse to making a dress out of duct tape could win you a scholarship. There is plenty of scholarship information online. We always recommend starting with the U.S. Department of Labor’s  free scholarship search tool. And don’t stop your search for scholarships, even when you are in college. Some scholarships are only available to current college students! Remember, the best time to work on these various applications is now – when you have more free time. So, start searching and spend some time applying to possible scholarships before you head back to school this year! Who We Are CFAA helps with the financial aid process, from completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options. Schedule a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college. plan it

The best words that any college student can hear are that they got a scholarship. Scholarships are worth their weight in gold for students. They’re someone else’s money and you don’t have to pay them back.  College scholarships are a wonderful supplement to federal, state and institutional financial aid that you may receive. Scholarships exist in a variety of places – and for a variety of abilities, situations, careers, and experiences. The trickiest part about them is figuring out where to look for scholarships and knowing when to apply for them!  Here’s a few things to know as you start your search for scholarships!   Who are scholarships for?  While most people associate scholarships with college, there are scholarships available for students of all ages. Surprisingly, there are scholarships available for elementary and middle school students (for impressive amounts!). Other funds prioritize college students but there are also options for adults attending graduate school or going back to college later in life. So, in short, scholarships are for everyone! The most common scholarships are those sought by high school seniors as part of their college admissions process. When do I look for scholarships? There is usually a mad dash to complete the FAFSA, apply to college, and search for scholarships in the late fall to early winter of a student’s senior year, and then there is no activity afterwards. But, the truth is that this can severely limit the student’s potential to earn substantial scholarship money. Many quality scholarships are available with later deadlines, and there are even some which are only available after a student is already enrolled in college. Read more about why it’s important to continue your scholarship search all year long – and throughout your college career.  How do I apply for and receive scholarships?  In some cases, colleges simply grant scholarships to deserving students based on their FAFSA information as part of the financial aid package, but there is usually an application process for the rest. The best way to maximize the likelihood of receiving more scholarships is to begin the search as early as possible (even in junior year!). Keep track of the possible scholarships you want to apply for so that as your application process for college gets more involved, you don’t forget about these potential money options! Most scholarships are available on a yearly basis, so you should be able to generate a solid list of those which apply to you. Get creative in your search process! Ask everyone you know. This is much easier to do with the benefit of time on your hands, which is another reason to start as early as possible. Then conduct some research online looking for scholarship opportunities. If that research feels overwhelming, consider our Personalized Scholarship Process. Don’t forget to look for scholarships in unusual areas that meet your interests, too. You might be surprised to know that there are scholarships for gamers, creating a prom dress out of Duck Tape, duck calling, amateur radio enthusiasts, and even one for tall students. Chances are there is a scholarship out there with your name on it – you just have to find it! Who We Are CFAA helps with the financial aid process, from completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options. Schedule a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college. plan it

Most parents know that their students should look for scholarships during their junior and senior year of high school. But, what many don’t realize is that scholarship searches should continue beyond that. Looking for additional forms of “free” money can help ease the financial burden of a college education. Although some scholarships are part of the college’s financial aid package, students also have the ability to search anywhere else they choose to find scholarships on their own. Continuing the scholarship search can be one of the best ways to make college more affordable.  Scholarships matter. As you begin to compare financial aid award letters, it’s possible to find out that your student’s preferred school is slightly out of reach. Extra money from a scholarship award can be the difference between college selections. Often, scholarships have application deadlines in the winter. However, some have later deadlines and can help students on the last part of their application (and acceptance) journey.  Even those students already in college should keep an eye out for possible scholarship opportunities. Additional money can help cover the cost of books or other expenses. The search for scholarships shouldn’t stop just because their junior year is over!  Where should you search? Parents and students should both keep an eye out locally for scholarship opportunities, as well as search online. There’s truly so many opportunities out there for students and their interests. If your child has a special strength or interest, look for associations or clubs that follow that passion. Scour their websites to see if they offer a scholarship. You’d be surprised what you might find. This can also be true of family connections or organizations.  If you’re not convinced yet, consider these additional reasons your student should still search for scholarships: It keeps your student thinking about money:  With everything else they have on their plates, it can be surprisingly easy for students to forget the financial piece of attending college. Once they file the FAFSA, or get their financial aid award letters, they think the money part of the process is complete. But, just like in real life, money should be a part of the everyday thought process. Students should always be concerned about how they are going to pay for college. The cost continues through each year – it’s not a one and done situation.   It covers the incidental costs:  Sometimes scholarships don’t seem like a lot of money. But, the reality is that it can really be a lot to a student who is trying to get along on a budget every month. Having “spare” money can be the difference between someone attending an event, purchasing extra materials, or taking one less shift for work that month.  It means you have to borrow less:  Every penny you get in grants, scholarships or income from work is one less penny you have to borrow through student loans. That’s always a plus! One of the greatest factors contributing to the current student loan crisis is that student loans are used for everyday expenses, and not just educational costs. No real thought is given to the interest that is accruing, or to the student’s future ability to repay those loans. After graduation, a cruel reality begins to set in when students realize they are not earning enough money to live on their own and repay their loans. It reinforces a goal-oriented mindset: Learning to set goals and following a schedule to achieve them are two powerful life skills. Students who know that they need to complete certain tasks within a specified timeframe are building life skills. They are also filling their heads with academic knowledge. Taking the time to search, write and submit these scholarship applications is a great life lesson for your student.   A scholarship can be a welcome addition to the “paying for college” pot. So, it shouldn’t be something that is left to chance. With an intentional approach to seeking out and applying to scholarships at all levels of their school career, students can often find sufficient funds to help support their academic aspirations – and make their financial burden less. Continue to support your student’s scholarship search and possibilities for the future.  More Resources… Want to learn more about saving for college? Check out my book: Secrets of a Financial Aid Pro. This book contains information on completing the FAFSA, applying for financial aid, paying for college, and repaying student loans. Order it now and find out how to make your college journey easier!  Who is CFAA? CFAA helps with the financial aid process, from completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options. Schedule a CFAA new client free strategy session or a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college. To get the latest financial aid information and college application to-do lists, look for my bi-weekly JustAskJodi emails. Make sure to check out my monthly CFAA e-newsletter, too.